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The Battle of Long Tan
Work In Progress This article is still under construction. It may contain factual errors. See Talk:The Battle of Long Tan for current discussions. Content is subject to change. |
The Battle of Long Tan is a 2006 ABC documentary made by Red Dune Films. Narrated by Sam Worthington of Avatar fame, and employing a mixture of veteran interviews, archival footage and dramatic reenactments, it tells the story of the events of 18 August 1966, when D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment fought a fierce battle with local Vietcong forces at the Long Tan Rubber Plantation in the Phuoc Tuy province of the Republican of Vietnam. Despite being a documentary, it employs actors using uniforms and weapons correct for the period, making it eligable for inclusion.
The following weapons were used in the documentary The Battle of Long Tan:
Rifles
L1A1
The L1A1 is the main weapon of 6RAR in the film, not surprising it was the standard-issue Australian Defence Force rifle during the Vietnam War.
M16
The M16 also appears fairly regularly in the documentary, carried mostly by officers and scouts. Sergeant Bob Buick (11 Platoon) recalls using the Armalite AR-15 in both the film and his memoirs; the AR-15 was in fact the basis for the M16 rifle, but it was possibly referred to as the Armalite by Australian and New Zealand troops in-country.
M16A1
The M16A1 appears amongst Australians in a couple of scenes. This is anachronistic, since the M16A1 was introduced amongst U.S. troops in 1967, and would have hardly reached Australians by that time.
AK-47
The AK-47 is carried by Vietcong troops.
SKS
Vietcong troops in the film also carry SKS rifles with underfolding bayonets.
Submachine Guns
Owen Submachine Gun
Australian Radio Telephone Operators (RTO's) carry the Owen Submachine Gun, probably due to it's lightweight and reliability in jungle combat. Indeed, the Owen was in service in Vietnam until 1966, when it was replaced by the similar F1 Submachine Gun.
Machine Guns
M60
The M60 is used by Australian machine gunners in the documentary, both with the deployed bipod and without it.
RPD
The RPD is used by the Vietcong troops who ambush 11 Platoon.
Browning M2HB
The Browning M2HB is mounted on Australian M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC's) sent to reinforce D Company.